Method and system for transferring data to an electronic toy or other electronic device

Abstract

A method for transferring data from a display device to an electronic device includes displaying a visual pattern on the display device. The visual pattern represents the data being transferred. In the electronic device, the visual pattern is received and processed to obtain the data represented by the visual pattern. The visual pattern may be formed by an array of data elements, each data element representing at least one bit of data being transferred to the electronic device. A series of such arrays may be sequentially displayed on the display device. The visual pattern may alternatively be formed by a bar code that represents bits of data being transferred to the electronic device. A series of bar codes may be sequentially displayed on the display device.

1. A data transfer system, comprising:
 a display device including a display screen, the display device operable to display a time-dependent visual pattern on the display screen, the time-dependent visual pattern representing a plurality of bits of data; and 
 an electronic toy comprising:
 at least one dynamic feature including at least one of a visual element, a speaker, and an actuator; 
 a memory; 
 a processor operably coupled to the memory and the dynamic feature and operable to execute programmatic data stored in the memory to control the dynamic element; 
 an array of photoelectric detectors secured to a surface of the toy and operably coupled to the processor, the array being operable to receive the visual pattern when the electronic toy is positioned adjacent the display screen and to generate a plurality of electrical signals responsive to the visual pattern and the processor operable to process the electrical signals and to derive programmatic data and to store the programmatic data in the memory; and 
 wherein the processor is further operable to determine from the visual pattern whether the electronic toy is properly positioned relative to the visual pattern and, if the electronic toy is determined not to be properly positioned relative to the visual pattern, to determine an offset direction corresponding to the position of the electronic toy relative to the visual pattern and output the offset direction. 
 
 
   
   
     2. The data transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the dynamic element is a speaker and wherein the processor is operable to cause the speaker to audibly indicate the offset direction. 
   
   
     3. The data transfer system of  claim 2 , wherein the dynamic element is an actuator and wherein the processor is operable to cause the actuator to move an anatomical portion of the toy in order to gesture the offset direction. 
   
   
     4. The data transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the photoelectric detectors comprise photo-diodes. 
   
   
     5. The data transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the visual pattern comprises a constant border region and wherein the processor is operable to determine from the visual pattern whether the electronic toy is properly positioned by determining if any sensors of the sensor array have a constant output. 
   
   
     6. The data transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is operable to compare a location of sensors of the sensor array having a non-constant output to a location of sensors of the sensor array having the constant output to determine an offset direction. 
   
   
     7. A method for transferring data to a toy comprising:
 displaying a human intelligible visual indicator on a screen communicating that a data communication is going to be transmitted; 
 placing a toy having a sensor array formed thereon in front of a screen having the sensor array facing the screen, the toy further comprising a processor for executing programmatic data, a memory for storing the programmatic data, and a dynamic element controllable by the processor according to the programmatic data, the dynamic element comprising at least one of a visual element, a speaker, and an actuator; 
 determining from the visual pattern whether the electronic toy is properly positioned relative to the visual pattern; 
 if the electronic toy is determined not to be properly positioned relative to the visual pattern, determining an offset direction corresponding to the position of the electronic toy relative to the visual pattern and outputting the offset direction; 
 transmitting video data to the screen, the video data including a data pattern; 
 detecting the data pattern with the sensor array; and 
 translating the data pattern into a plurality of data bits. 
 
   
   
     8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the visual pattern comprises an array of data elements, each data element corresponding to four or more colors and representing a plurality of binary data bits. 
   
   
     9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the dynamic element is a speaker and wherein the method further comprises causing the speaker to audibly indicate the offset direction. 
   
   
     10. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the dynamic element is an actuator and wherein the method further comprises causing the actuator to move an anatomical portion of the toy in order to gesture the offset direction. 
   
   
     11. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the visual pattern comprises a constant border region and wherein the method further comprises determining from the visual pattern whether the electronic toy is properly positioned by determining if any sensors of the sensor array have a constant output. 
   
   
     12. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising comparing a location of sensors of the sensor array having a non-constant output to a location of sensors of the sensor array having the constant output to determine an offset direction. 
   
   
     13. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the photoelectric detectors comprise photo-diodes.